Non???biting midge

[Njugglebreck]

Do these bite?
I was bitten yesterday and I have a big weal on my arm with lots of little blisters in the centre. I saw what it was and I've spent 2 days searching, trying to id it and this looks like it. It was about 3-4mm long. I'm up in Shetland - was walking near a loch - so wet, marshy ground.

Non-biting Midge - Psectrotanypus varius - Wild About Britain Pics

[Dorts]

Without doubt the Midge that causes the biggest problem is Culicoides impunctatus, one of over 35 different Culicoides species found in Scotland, though they are all likely to bite given the opportunity. It's common throughout Britain especially in damp areas such as here in N. Wales and is a real nuisance, not only to us but particularly to horses. Most are around 2mm. The raised itchy lump on the skin is reaction to the midges saliva. Some people are more suseptable than others.

The Culicoides Midge also causes terrible problems for many horses that are allergic to the bite giving them an itchy skin rash called 'Sweet Itch' similar to Eczema. They will rub themselves raw given the chance.

Anything bigger than the Midge is likely to be a Mosquitoe, famous in Scotland for biting everything that moves.
Dorts.

[JRsbugs]

The one you were bitten by is as Dorts said, probably Culicoides impunctatus which belongs in the family Ceratopogonidae.

Highland midge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The one you have linked to is in a different family, Chironomidae.

[Njugglebreck]

Definitely not a 'normal' midge. We've got gazillions of them! They just leave me itchy lumps without the blister.
Don't think mosquitos have been seen here - thankfully.